London cycling and walking schemes

Schemes to encourage Londoners to use greener forms of transport, particularly cycling and walking, have received a £1.2 million funding boost from London Councils.

The three organisations that will receive funding are Living Streets, the London Cycling Campaign and the Creative Environment Networks. They will work with businesses, schools and local authorities to raise awareness of the benefits of walking or cycling.

According to figures from the Department of Transport, over the last five years, the number of walking and cycling trips in England has fallen, despite 68 per cent of the journeys people undertake being less than five miles and 42 per cent of journeys being less than two miles. Cars are used for one in five trips of less than a mile.

Chairman of London Councils Grants Committee, Councillor Paul McCannah, commented: "London is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Unless we do something now, this will get worse, especially with London's population expected to continue growing.